Mechanism for washing-machines



W. H. SARGENT.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES,

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25. 1915.

1,322,627.. Patented Non-25, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

W. H. SARGENT.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES- APPLICATION FILEDSEPT.25.1915.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 W. H. SARGENT.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES- APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25,1915.

1,322,627., Patented-Nov. 25, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. H. SARGENT.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES APPLICATION FILED szP-Tjzs.1915.

1,322,627. I Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

I j C if era-ans rnrnnr WILLIAM H. S-ARG'ENT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,ASSIGNOR TO WAYNE MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ACORPOlEt-AITON' OF MISSOURI.

ornnn'rmc MECHANISM non. WASHING--MACHINES..

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent gqi Nov. 255, 1%19,

Application filed September 25, 1815. Serial No. 52,615.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. SARGENT, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented anew and useful Operating Mechanism for Washing-Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention rel-ates to improvements in operating mechanism.forwashing machines, and consists in the novel design, arrangement andcombination of the various parts and elements hereinafter more fullydisclosed.

Another object of the'invention is to provide operating mechanismactuated from a single prime mover for imparting to a vertical shaftacombined reciprocating vertical and an alternating rotary motion, incombination with means for imparting to a transverse shaft a rotarymotion, with provision for operatively connecting and disconnectingeither or both of said shafts with the driving mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide operating mechanism forwashing machines whereby an alternating vertical movement and analternating rotary movement may be imparted to the pounder shaft, eachalternating rotary reciprocation being in a reverse direction.

With the foregoing ends as well as additional advantages and featuresattainable from the present construction, in view, I have designed,combined and arranged the various parts and elements as hereinafter morefully disclosed and specifically pointed out in the appended claims,reference being made in the course of the description to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a rear elevation of themachine embodying the mechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation opposite to that of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a plan ,view of a washing machine embodying the presentinvention.

Fig. l is a detailed view further illustrating certain features of thedriving mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a section through certain of the parts constituting thedriving connection for effecting an alternating vertical andreiiprocating motion of the pounde'r shaft.

Fig. (3 is a bottomplan view of a rack and pinionconstructionconstituting a part of the mechanism for imparting thevertical and rotary reciprocating motion to the pounder shaft.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail View showing particularly the clutchmechanism in the operative connection between the pounder shaft and theupright shaft. e

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings aportable support or frame is provided for the operating mechanism. Asillustrated, the support comprises a rectangular frame 1 mounted on legsor standards 2. For the purpose of increasing the rigidity of the frameit is preferable to provide reinforcing members 3, extending obliquelyfrom the end members of the frame and being connected with each leg,respectively. An open platform a formed from slats 4 disposedtransversely of the frame is provided, the opposite end of the framebeing open to receive a removable support comprising, in the embodimentshown, a tub 5 of a washing machine.

The tub 5 is mounted in the frame on trunnions 6 which seat in brackets7 secured to the side members of the frame. The trunnions 6 areeccentrically attached to the tub, the rear end of the tub beingsupported by an arm 8 pivoted in a bracket 9 mounted on the tub. The arm8 may be moved by a handle 10. In normal position the arm extendsoutwardly from the end of the tub and rests upon the upper face of theend member of the frame, supporting the tub in horizontal position.When, however, the arm 8 is turned at right angles by operation of thehandle lOthe end of the tub will be depressedin the frame, therebyproviding means for draining the tub. The tub 5 is provided with a cover11 which is hinged so that it may be raised and lowered from thetub, alatching device .12 being provided to hold the cover in position whenclosed.

' An upright support 13 in the form of. a tubular standard is secured tothe upper face of the frame member. The member 13 has a flange 14nearits' upper extremity. A swingable bracket is mounted above thetermination of the support 13 which bracket includes a yoke member 15and a transverse member 16 at the outer extremity of which is a handle17. The transverse member tions.

16 of the bracket is adapted to support a wringer frame 18. The wringermechanism proper is of usual construction and comprises wringer rolls19, one of which it will be understood; is on an idle shaft and the.

mechanism carried thereby, is sWingable' about the support 13, so thatthe wringer may be operated in various selected posivide a keeper rod 21which 1s supported in brackets 22 depending from the lower edge ofthetransverse member 16 of the wringer bracket. A spring 23, encircling therod 21, bears at one end against one of the brackets 22 and at the otherend against a collar 24 on the rod 21, thereby actuatin the rod 21toward the periphery of the flange 14 of the standard 13. A series ofsockets 25 at selected positions are formed in the flange.

14, the'end of the rod 21 seating therein and locking the wringerbracket in position; For the'purpose of disengaging the end of the rodfrom the socket manually, I provide an engageable portion 26 for.withdrawing the rod from the sockets against the tendency of the spring23.

An upright shaft "27 is mounted in the standard 13 and extends at oneend to a point below the frame member 1 and at its other end throughbearings 28, formed in the yoke member 15. The mechanism for driving theupright shaft 27 comprises a motor M supported in a 'platform 29 mountedbelow the frame 1 of the machine, which .motor drives the motor shaft 36carrying a pulley 31, the power from the pulley 31 being transmitted bya belt 32 to a drive pulley 33 carried bya stud shaft 34 journaled inbearings 35 at the extremities of the brackets 36 depending from theframe of the machine. The shaft 34 drives a pinion 37 which is in meshwith a gear 38 loosely mounted on a shaft 39 journaled in bearings 40formed in the brackets 36. The relative diameters of the pinion 37 andgear 38 is such that the gear 38 will be driven at a reduced speed withrespect to the inion 37. The gear 38 is slidable lon itudinally of theshaft 39 and. the face of t i'e pinion 37 is wide enough so as tomaintain the meshed engagement between it and the gear 38 throughout theextent of the longitudinal movement of the gear 38.

In driving the upright shaft 27 in one direction the clutch member 41,formed on the'hub of the gear 38, is engaged with a complementary clutchmember 42'rigid on the shaft 39, the driven gear38 thus being placedinoperative relationship with the shaft 39, whereby a 'beveled gear 43fast I In order that the wringer bracket may be locked in its selectedposltions I proon the shaft 39 is driven and in turn drives the bevelpinion 44 on the extremity of the upright shaft 27. In reversing therotation of the shaft 27 the gear 38 is moved longitudinally of theshaft 39 until a clutch member 45 on the hub of the gear 38 isoperativel engaged with a complementary clutch mem er 46 on the hub ofthe bevel gear 47.

The bevel gear 47 is'fmounted so that it revolves freely on the shaft39, but is arranged .so that it,is prevented from sliding-longitudinallythereof by a suitable engaglng construction so that it will always be inmesh with the bevel gear 44. 'In this adjustment power is transmitteddirectly from the gear 38 to the bevel gear 47.

As the bevel gears 43 and 47 are on opposite sides of the axis of thebevel gear 44'and disposed at right angles thereto, it is obvious thatwhen the gear 44 is driven from one or the other of the gears 43 and 47the direction of rotation of the gear 44 and therefore the shaft 27.will bereversed.

It will be noted that the distance between the clutch members 42 and 46is suflicient so that the clutch members 41 and 45 carried on the hub ofthe gear 38 may be brought to a neutral position in which none of theclutch elements are,, engaged. The mechanism for controlling the clutchconstruction just described comprises a slidable rod 48 mounted inbearings at'theextremities of the brackets 36, which rod 48 carries anarm 49 having a bifurcated extremity 50 from. the arms of which pins 51extend inwardly and engage in a groove in the hub of the 7 gear 38. Therod 48 is moved by a lever 52 pivoted to the frame of the machine at 53and extends upwardly and has a handle portion 54 conveniently accessibleto the operator.

"From the foregoing it will be understood that the washing machinemechanism and the coiiperatin wringer mechanism are both driven fromtile upright shaft 27, and that the direction of rotation of said shaft27 is reversible at the option of the operator. Reverse movement isimparted to the shaft 27 by shifting the gear 38 from engagement withthe clutch member 42 into engagement with the clutch 46 of the pinion47, and vice versa. When the shaft 27 is reversed the operation of thewringer mechanism is reversed and as an incident to the reversing of thewringer mechanism the washing machine mechanism will also be reversed.

I also direct attention to the fact that both the wringer mechanism andthe washing means? By this construction I havedifi'erentiated from othercombined washing machines and wringers now in use. It will also beobserved. that, in addition to the above described control forthewashing machine and wringer, I have provided independently andoptionally operative controlling devices whereby either of saidmechanisms may be operated independently of the other.

A slotted enlargement on the lever 52 embraces the connecting shaft fromthe shaft 27 to the mechanism for operating the pounder shaft, theextent of movement of the lever 52 being controlled by the movement ofthe lever permitted by the slot in the portion 55, the end of the slotat each limit of movement abutting against the shaft referred to.

The mechanism for driving the wringer mechanism from the vertical shaft27 and.

for operatively connecting and disconnecting said mechanism with thevertical shaft comprises a beveled pinion 56 loosely mounted over theshaft 27. The bevel pinion is provided with a hub 57 in which is formeda groove extremity of the bracket 15 projects into the groove 58. Thisconstruction provides for retaining the bevel pinion 56 in position soas to hold said pinion permanently in mesh with a bevel gear 60 which isrigid on the shaft 20-of the wringer mechanism.

A clutch device comprising a clutch element 61 formed on the hub of thebevel pinion 56 and a complementary clutch element 62 provide means foroperatively connecting and disconnecting the pinion 56 with theshaft 27.The clutch member 62 is in the form of a sleeve and embraces the shaft27 being splined thereon by a pin and slot connection 63. raised andlowered so as to be engaged with and disengaged from the-clutch element61 by a manually manipulative device compris: ing a lever 64: rigid witha shaft 65, the shaft 65 being journaled in bearings66 and 67 supportedby the bracket 15 and the wringer frame, respectively. The shaft 65carries anarm 68 connected by a link 69 to a lever 70. The lever 7 0 isbifurcated at its extremity and has inwardly extending pins 71 whichengage in a groove 72 formed in the member 62.

When the lever 64 is operated to a certain position, the two clutchmembers 61 and 62 will be engaged. As the link 69 is made in a curvedform and eccentrically connected to the arm 68, when the lever 64 isswung to the limit of its movement in either direction, it will belocked in position so as to either maintain the clutch engaged or toprevent the accidental engagement of the clutch until the lever isoperated.

As the shaft 27 may be driven in either direction, the control of theoperation of the ing- 58. A shoulder 59 formed at the The clutch element62 is The pounder shaft carries at its lower extremity a pounder 76 ofknown construction, which pounder may be provided with detachable blades77.

The mechanism for reciprocating the pounder shaft vertically and in arotary direction comprises a bevel pinion 78 mounted on the shaft 27which meshes with a complepinion 79 secured to a shaft mentary bevel 80disposed at right angles to the shaft 27 and journaled in bearings 81and 82, the bearing 81 being formed on a bracket 83 integral with thestandard 13, and the bear- 82being formed at one extremity of a bracket84 secured to the cover of the machine. The shaft 80 extends beyond thebearing 82 and has bearing also in the other extremity 85 of the bracket8%. The shaft 80 carries a bevel pinion 86 which is loosely mounted uponthe shaft 80 and is adapted to be engaged therewith by a clutch deviceincluding a clutch member 87 on the hub of the pinion 86 and acomplementary clutch member 88 which is in the form of a sleeve andsplined on the shaft 80.

The clutch member 88 is actuated toward the clutch member 87 by anexpansion spring 89 encircling the shaft 86 and disposed between the endof the clutch member 88 and the bearing 85.

The connection for breakin the clutched engagement of the elements 87and 88 comprises a rod 90 having a bifurcated member 91 in the arms ofwhich are inwardly extending pins engaging in a groove formed by theflanges 92 on the'member 88. The,

rod 99 extends through a sleeve 93 formed on the member 84 and has onits outer extremity a hand wheel 94:. A hub 95 extends inwardly andmeets the outer face of the sleeve 93. The matching edges of the sleeve93 and the hub 95 lie on an oblique line so that there is a cam contactbetween them. Thus, when the wheel 94 is rotated, the rod. 90 will bedrawn inwardly moving the clutch element 88 against the tendency of thespring 89 away from the clutch member 87, thereby breaking the operativec0nnection between the shaft 80 and the pinion 86. The pinion 86 is inmesh with a pinion 96. The pinion. 96 is mounted on a short shaft 97supported by the bracket 84 secured to the cover of the machine. Thepinion 96 has a bevel face meshing with the pinion 86 and also ahorizontal face which meshes iae ' 113 and the segmental gear 1'14,there will with a gear 99'on a shaft 100, the shaft 100 being supportedabove the pinion 96 and mounted in a bearing portion in the bracket 84.

The shaft 100 extends inwardly and through a bearing portion'lOl of thebracket 75 carrying at its inner end a crank arm 102. The crank arm 102is operatively connected with a block 103, which block 103 carries twolugs 104spaced apart and provided with openings in their extremitieswhich embrace the shaft 7 3. The face of the block 103 bears against onoval-shaped bracket 105. The matching surfaces of the block 103 and thebracket 105 are planed so that the block 103 will operate smoothlyagainst the bracket and the parts will be retained in proper adjustmentand prevented from vibrating when operating.

The rotation ofthe shaft 100 by means of the mechanism just describedwill reciprocate the shaft 73 vertically. In order to rotate the shaft73 I provide a stud 106 mounted in a standard portion 107 of the bracket84 upon which shaft is loosely mounted the disk 108 provided with abeveled gear 109 on its under face, which gear meshes with and is drivenby a matching bevel pinion 110 disposed at right angles thereto and faston the shaft 100.

Tothe upper face of the disk 108 and eccentrically connected thereto isa bar or link 111 which is Provided with a slot'112 engaging over theend of the shaft 73. The bar or llnk 1'11 is formed with a dependingrack 113 on its under face, which rack engages with a segmental gear 114secured to a swinging bracket 115. The swinging bracket 115 isyoke-shaped and has openings in its extremity which embrace the shaft73. A disk 116 with an axial opening therein embraces the shaft 73between the lugs 104 and is attached, to the shaft 73' by a set screw117. A pin,118 in the disk extends into a slot 119 arranged verticallyin the swinging bracket 115.

The relationship of the bevel pinion 110 to the bevel gear 109 is in theratio of two to one, so that it will require two rotations of the shaft100 and therefore two reciprocations of the shaft 73 to each rotation ofthe disk 108. As an alternating rotary motion is imparted to the shaft73 by the rack be imparted to the shaft 73 an alternating rotarymovement, the arc of movement being first in one direction and then inthe other during the alternate up; and down stroke of the shaft. Thismovement of the shaft 7 3 in an up and down path and in one rotarydirection and then the other, thoroughlyagitates the clothes in the tub,combining the frictional rubbing action due to the r0- tarv motion andthe suction action due to the vertical reciprocation. As the rotarymotion is alternately in one direction and then the other, the clothesin the tub are prevented'to a large degree from wrapping of the wrappingof the clothes about the pounder shaft and pounder for readily reversingthe operation of the mechanism, so that the pounder shaft may bereadilydriven in a reverse direction to disengage the clothes and to establishnormal operation of the machine Without the necessity of removing theclothes from the tub-or, indeed, of even opening the machine. Thisreversing of the mechanism is accomplished through the reverse devicefor the power mechanism heretofore fully disclosed.

I am aware that the principle of the present invention may be embodiedin modified forms and that details in construction and design may bechanged without in the least comprising a support, a bracket attached tosaid support, a vertical shaft extending through said support, and1ournaled 1n said bracket for axial and rocking movements, a,

rotary crank shaft, means operated by said crank shaft to impart axialmovements to said vertical shaft, a gear element through which saidvertical shaft extends, a movable bracket holding said gear element fromvertical movement by said vertical shaft, means for actuating said gearelement from said crank shaft, and means for rocking said vertical shaftfrom said movable bracket.

2. Mechanism of the character described, comprising a support, a bracketattached to said support, a vertical shaft extending through saidsupport, and journaled in said bracket for axial and rocking, movements,a crank shaft, a crank device connecting said crank shaft with saidvertical shaft for imparting axial movements to the vertical shaft bythe crank shaft, a movable bracket in connection with said verticalshaft held from ver tical movement by the first-named bracket, an armattached to the vertical shaft and actuated by said movable bracket torock the vertical shaft, a gear element in connection with said movablebracket, a rack machine shaft by rotation of the crank shaft, a

bracket through which the vertical shaft is slidable, a gear elementinconnection with said bracket, means for operating said gear elementfrom said crank shaft, and an element attached'to the Vertical shaft andhaving pin-in-slot connection'with said bracket, whereby, said verticalshaft will be rocked by said bracket.

4. Operating mechanism for washing machines, comprising a support, avertical shaft journaled in said support for axial. and rockingmovements, a movable bracket in connection with said shaft, means. forholding said bracket against movement by said shaft, a crank shafthaving crank connection with said vertical shaft for imparting axialmovement to the vertical shaft by rotation of the crank shaft, a gearelement in connection with said bracket, connections for operating thegear "element from the crank shaft, and a device connecting said bracketwith said vertical shaftfor rocking said vertical shaft by movement ofsaid bracket.

5. Mechanism of the character described, comprising a vertical shaftmounted for axial and rocking movements, a swinging bracket inconnection with the'vertical shaft .having a slot therein, an elementattached to the vertical shaft extending into said slot.

for rocking thevertical shaft by movement of said bracket, means holdingsaid bracket from movement by said vertical shaft, a crank shaftoperatively connected with said vertical shaft for imparting axial movements to the vertical shaft, gearing driven by the crank shaft, areciprocating rack actuated by said gearing, and a gear element inconnection with said bracket and meshing with said rack.

In Witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. SARGENT. Witnesses:

N. G. BUTLER, L. C. KINGSLAND.

